A DAY before the conclusion of the 15th Cebu City Sangguniang Panglungsod, the City Council passed the second supplemental budget (SB2) amounting to P1.2 billion on Wednesday, June 29, 2022.
Vice Mayor-elect and incumbent councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia said the passing of the SB2 was not rushed; it underwent necessary legal procedures, contrary to the claims of opposition councilors.
Garcia said that out of 12 councilors, seven moved for its approval, four opposed, and one abstained.
The councilors who opposed were Alvin Dizon, Lea Japson, Nestor Archival and Joy Young. These local lawmakers belong to the opposition Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan.
Garcia said the City Council had ample time to pass the second supplemental budget, and all of the opposition councilors’ concerns had been answered by the different department heads.
“We did not rush the approval. We followed all the steps, all the processes,” said Garcia.
The incoming vice mayor further stated that the SB2 should not be delayed since most of its allocation is for health and other basic services.
The Department of Social Welfare and Services has been allocated the biggest chunk of the budget—P154 million for its programs on livelihood, employment and daycare services.
Included also in the SB2 are the financial assistance for persons with disabilities and hospitals, and for the purchase of medicines.
The Department of Public Services will also receive P125.5 million, which includes funds for collection and dumping of garbage and tipping fee.
Meanwhile, the City Health Department will be allocated P58 million for its maintenance and other operating expenses that include salaries of nurses, barangay health workers and doctors. Part of the funds will also be allotted for environmental services and salary differentials.
The other offices that will benefit from the SB2 are the City Agriculture Department (P17.1 million), Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (P11 million), and Cebu City Medical Center (P49 million).